Chief Charlo of the Salish VOLUME 16, NUMBER 46
THE BUTTERCUP MONTH
Chief Koostatah of the Kootenai APRIL 6, 1988
Quiet quarterly features a new idea for Koss and a New York visitor
The April quarterly Council meeting, attended by about 40 people, was relatively quiet, although a couple of heavy discussions took place.
For example, there were questions on whether or not 79 tracts of land should be advertised to only Tribal members on the annual spring bid letting. The BIA was concerned about the interests of individual owners of undivided land being represented properly._
10 00
si
Don Boldt, BIA, said thatoutof the 79 tracts, 41 tracts are 100% Tribally owned, 20 are 100% individually owned, and 16 are shared by the Tribes and individual owners.
The Council had previously took action to reserve the spring bid advertisement for Tribal members only, in order to give the Tribal members the opportunity to attain some land to get a start on farms or ranches, etc. Without the non-Indian bid, the Council felt there would be no chance of an outside monopoly that would put the bids out of the Indians' reach.
However, the BIA contends that there is no sure way of sifting through those bids while making sure the individual owner will receive an equivalent to the fair-market value. "How can you establish market value until you open it up to everyone?" asked Wyman Babby,
Flathead Agency superintendent.
Councilman Louie Adams argued that a Tribal member can set the market value. "A non-member with a big operation will try to monopolize, even to the extent of bidding way over what the land is worth," said Adams. "I've seen it done. The Indian operator who's trying to get a start can't compete."
What it finally came down to wasn't a question of whether it was right to limit the first round of bids, but whether the entire undivided interest situation was fair to the shareholders. "Undivided interests aren't worth a damn, it's just as good as wasteland," said Arlee resident Kevin Howlett. "If you can't get total cooperation of all the shareholders, then you can't do anything."
Al Sloan, Pablo, suggested the Tribal Realty department be given the duties of (Continues on page three)
1988 Christmas tree season news
A meeting will be held in the BIA east conference room at the Tribal Complex in Pablo on Monday, April 18, at 3 p.m., to discuss the regulations governing the 1988 Christmas tree harvesting-and-buying season.
If you are unable to attend, you may submit suggestions or comments in writing to: BIA Flathead Agency - Branch of Forestry, Box A, Pablo, MT 59855, ATTN: Eric Shallock.